Compare towns

Burnham vs New Gloucester vs Phillips

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burnham has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureBurnhamNew GloucesterPhillips
People
Population
953Lowest
5,766Highest
1,094
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.8%
ME: +2.6%
+2.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-12.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.4±3.2
8% above ME
40.1±5.5Lowest
10% below ME
49.7±3.7Highest
11% above ME
Phillips and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
New Gloucester and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.3%±2.1
ME: 22.4%
Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.8%
ME: 36.2%
30.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
20.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Phillips and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,261±$18k
21% below ME
$108,797±$12kHighest
46% above ME
$45,385±$12kLowest
39% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$178,100±$43kLowest
40% below ME
$357,100±$29kHighest
20% above ME
$190,800±$18k
36% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,308±$386Highest
15% above ME
$1,150±$249
about the ME average
$483±$377Lowest
58% below ME
Burnham and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,897Lowest
38% below ME
$3,417Highest
13% above ME
$2,582
15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.9%±49Highest
ME: 48.4%
24.7%±12Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.4%±33
ME: 48.4%
Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.6%
ME: 10.7%
4.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
83.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
13% below ME
27 minHighest
9% above ME
23 min
8% below ME
Work from home
17%±10.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.2%±6.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
16.8%±7
ME: 15.9%
Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #65 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 15/MSAD 15 RSU 58/MSAD 58
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.